"𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓽 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓽 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼. 𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓼𝓪𝓭, 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷. 𝓢𝓸 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓴𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼, 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼. 𝓛𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓵𝔂, 𝓘'𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮."

***

An orange and red glow lit the night as the village was in flames. The crew rushed as quickly as they could to get to the village. It was day by the time they got there. At that point, the damage had already been done. In place of the huts they'd seen when they first arrived were only frames and ash. People were running around, trying to put out the remaining fires. Usopp, who had gotten there before them, was helping to put out the fires.

The expression on Nami's face sent a pang through Artemisia's heart. She cast a glance over at her before looking down at her hand. She went to slowly inch her hand toward hers. As soon as their pinkies were about to touch, Sanji spoke up, "Arlong did this?" Artemisia moved her hand back, shuffling away. "Why?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Nami responded, "To punish the villagers," Tears were once again welling up in her eyes. Artemisia pursed her lips. How badly she wanted to wipe them away. She made no move to do so. She no longer felt like she was worthy enough to touch her. "And to punish me."

There was a promise that Artemisia made to herself, "We're gonna punish him," Nami glanced over at her. "He's not getting away with this." She would spend her whole life trying to make up for doubting Nami. No matter how long it would take, she would do absolutely anything to make it up to her.

Something caught Artemisia's attention. She looked over to see Nojiko and a few of the men from the village. She shot a confused look as they walked up to them. There were looks of determination and anger on their faces. Nami was just as puzzled as her, "What's going on?"

"Nojiko told us about your sacrifice," The cop had a tight grip on his weapon. The mention of her sister made Nami glance over at her. "We didn't know. Can you ever forgive us?"

"There's nothing to forgive," Nami shook her head. "Coco Village is my home."

"Then it's our turn to sacrifice," He stated. Artemisia perked up at the statement. Just what did he mean? "We're done living in fear," There was a look of panic on Nami's face. Artemisia had a horrible feeling of just what he meant. "We're gonna march on Arlong Park. If those fishmen want a fight-"

The orange-haired girl cut him off, "That's not a fight. That's a massacre. You will all be killed."

None of them seemed to see her reasoning, "If there's no hope for us to buy our freedom, then I say we die trying to fight for it!" The villagers cried out in agreement with the cop's words.

The look on Nami's face looked to get more and more scared, "No, everyone, please!" She tried to plead with them. "No, I... I won't let you do that," The crowd stopped their cheers. They all stared at her with confusion. "This is my fight."

"No," Luffy said. Nami turned to him. "This is our fight," Luffy glanced at the others. "Right, guys?" Well, there was no other way. To Artemisia, it didn't seem like there was any other answer to the question.

"Finally, I get to cut something," Zoro replied.

"I've been wanting to take that fish guy down since I saw him," Artemisia smirked. Correction, she did and then she didn't. Seeing a bullet bounce right off him made her determination waver a bit. She just hoped that the other fishmen weren't bulletproof. In her case, arrow proof.

"But how are we gonna beat Arlong?" Usopp inquired. "We saw what he did at Baratie."

"Every creature has a weakness." Zoro didn't look the least bit intimidated.

"Even bulletproof ones?" Hopefully.

Like Zoro, Luffy was determined, "I'll know it when I see it. And when I do," Luffy's expression was one that none of them saw often. He was angry. Luffy was rarely ever angry. He was always such a happy-go-lucky person. If Luffy was angry, that meant only bad news to whoever he was going up again, "I won't hesitate."

"Sounds like a plan then," Artemisia glanced at Nami, "We should get going."

It had been a while since Artemisia had a proper fight. Last time she remembered was when she and the others were fighting against Axe-Hand Morgan and his Marines. She just hoped that she wasn't rusty. She and the others marched right into Arlong Park. Usopp had used his slingshot to fire small balls that exploded and created clouds of smoke when they hit the ground. They could all hear the confusion of the fishmen inside.

The group broke open the gates and walked right into the park. Taking a look around, Artemisia noticed how luxurious the place was. It looked like a resort that would be on one of those fancy islands. This was what Arlong was using all of the villagers' money for. While they were starving and barely getting by, he was living here in luxury.

(The group marches right into Arlong Park. Usopp uses his slingshots to fire small balls that explode and create clouds of smoke when they hit the ground. You can hear the fishmen's confusion. The group breaks open the gates and marches into the Park.)

"Fishmen!" The blond fishman from the Baratie shouted. "Stand by to repel boarders!"

Hitting his fist into the palm of his opposite hand, Luffy looked ready for a fight. Zoro used his thumb to loosen his sword from its sheath. Sanji put one of his feet behind the other and cracked his neck. Usopp raised his slingshot, ready to shoot. Artemisia loaded an arrow into her crossbow.

"Where's Arlong?" Luffy asked.

"He's probably in the map room." Nami breathed deeply.

Luffy looked back at her, "Then that's where we're going." Nami nodded.

"Try not to die," Artemisia advised.

The group split up. Nami started to lead Luffy to where Arlong would be while the others stayed behind to fight the fishmen. The fishmen yelled and ran at them with their weapons. Zoro sliced them. Usopp got to higher ground to get a better shot at them. Sanji kicked away any of the ones that came running at him. Artemisia fired at the fishmen near her. She shot them wherever she could, anywhere that would hinder them

Out of the corner of her eye, Artemisia could see a fishman jump out of the pool. He slashed at Luffy but the captain managed to dodge. Zoro came up to where they were, running along the wall, and sliced at the fishman's ankle. This caused the fishman to fall into the pool. Now that the obstacle was gone, Nami and Luffy continued on their way to Arlong.

Hitting a fishman in the face, Usopp looked a little panicked when seeing how upset the blond fishman was. He ran away with the fishman running after him. At one point, both Sanji and Zoro ended up on the same rock in the middle of the pool. Sanji kicked a fishman down in the process. Meanwhile, Artemisia was on higher ground, where Nami and Luffy had run into the fishman from before.

"I had that one." Zoro glanced back at Sanji.

"If you had him, I wouldn't have got him." Sanji simply said.

"Is this really the time to be arguing?" Artemisia unloaded one of her arrows. She tossed it into the air, grabbed it, and then slashed the neck of a fishman who was coming up behind her. Sanji grinned.

More fishmen ran at the three with a yell. Some jumped into the pool while others went up to where Artemisia was. Sanji and Zoro went to opposite sides of the pool to fight. Sanji kicked down one fishman and kicked another into the pool. Zoro was slashing at them left and right. Artemisia was shooting at the fishman and slashing at the ones that got too close.

A sight caught the attention of Artemisia. Zoro was down on one knee. He had a hand on his injured side. Sanji noticed the action as well, "You look tired," He kicked one of the fishman coming up from behind him. He swiped down low and knocked him off his feet as well. Sanji looked back at Zoro, "Maybe you should take a break."

Annoyed by the cook's words, Zoro stood and met blades with a fishman behind him. He managed to injure the fishman. Artemisia blinked, "He looks like he's got it handled."

"You ought to get back in the kitchen." Zoro fired at him.

Dodging a hit, Sanji yelled at him, "Quit screwing around!" He went to kick another fishman when his foot was caught. "Luffy needs us!" He flipped backward, freeing his foot, and kicked down a fishman behind him. Artemisia shot down another opponent.

Meanwhile, Zoro at a sword at a fishman's throat, "You just got here. You don't know what Luffy needs." His sword left the neck of his enemy. Blood spilled out of the deep cut.

The two ended up beside each other. Sanji glanced at him, "I know he needs my cooking." He ran to attack another fishman.

"Putting two slices of bread together?"

"No offense," Artemisia stabbed a fishman in the forehead with an arrow. She took the same arrow, loaded it into her crossbow, and fired it at a different fishman, "but Luffy would eat anything someone made him." Zoro sliced the fishman lying behind him. Sanji kicked a fishman down and Zoro slashed at one that was coming for him.

Standing in front of the other, everyone stopped when they heard a voice coming from Sanji's bag, "Someone's feeling threatened." Artemisia rolled her eyes.

"Shut up!" Zoro and Sanji both said, looking down at the bag.

"Then get me back to my body!" Buggy stated. "We're close. I can feel my toes." Glancing around, Artemisia caught sight of it. His body was on a board that was used for a carnival game. She could see it wiggling around.

The sight of Sanji taking off his bag made Artemisia frown, "Shame, I wanted to torture him while he's just a head."

"Trust me. I can help you guys win this thing." Buggy told them.

"I swear, clown, if you screw us over..." Zoro trailed off.

As soon as Sanji opened the bag, Buggy's head came falling out of it. It bounced and landed right side up, "Ow! God!" His head flew through the air and attached itself back to his body. He took a minute to celebrate, "Yes!" He made his hand break off so he could free himself from his restraints. He attached them back and jumped down off the board with a laugh, "Yes! Yes! Oh!" He spun around in a circle, "Oh, it's so much better than I even remembered," Now that he got that out of his system, he turned his attention back to the three staring at him, "Hey, so, um..," He flipped them off with both hands, "I'm gonna get out of here." He ran away.

Artemisia's mouth was dropped open, "You have got to be kidding me."

"Hey!"

"Sorry, kiddos," Buggy turned one last time. "I'd love to make things right, but it's time to exit stage left." He took off out of sight.

"Fucking clown." Zoro cursed.

"I should've dropped him in the ocean when I had a chance." Artemisia crossed her arms.

There was now only one fishman left. This was the more intimidating one. The one that Sanji had fought back when they were on the Baratie. Zoro made the first move to fight against him. It wasn't hard to see that he was having a difficult time taking him down. The fishman managed to hit him in the chest which made Zoro go flying. His back hit the ground harshly. The sight made Artemisia wince.

Coming from the sight, Sanji went to kick the fishman. He dodged easily. Sanji turned and went to kick again but missed. The fishman kicked his legs out from under him and punched him in the stomach when he was already in the air. Sanji hit the ground as harshly as Zoro did. Artemisia stared for a moment before she sighed, knowing that she should at least try.

The girl stood no chance. She had to run at him to do hand-to-hand combat since she was all out of arrows. The fishman grabbed her by the neck and threw her to where the others were. The three of them struggled to stand back up. The fishman looked more than smug, "You're no match for me. My kicks can break a ship's keel."

"That's nothing," Sanji struggled to stand. "You should have seen Zeff's kicks when he found an eggshell in the crème brûlée."

Holding his chest, Zoro had to use his sword to help himself up, "I get it. Zeff was mean to you. Boo-hoo."

"I dread being on the same team as you guys sometimes." And that was saying a lot as they hadn't been a team for long.

A yell sounded as the fishman ran at them. He kicked Sanji in the chest but Sanji kicked off him as well. Both did a back flip, though only the fishman landed on his feet. Sanji landed on his back. Artemisia ran at the fishman. She punched once and was blocked. Punched again, blocked. She aimed a kick at his head but he dodged.

That's when he grabbed her foot and pushed her back. Sanji managed to catch the girl, "My lady-"

"You are so not my type."

"And who is?" Sanji raised an eyebrow.

A smirk grew on her face, "Women." The girl pushed herself back up.

The swordsman of the group came forward and fought against the fishman with his sword. The fishman dodged each slide with ease and used his fin to stop Zoro's sword. He pushed Zoro away, making the swordsman stumble over near Sanji. Sanji watched as he stumbled by him. The fishman gave them a look that showed that he was looking down on them, "Nami is a fool to have her faith in such weak compatriots."

That was all it took for Artemisia to stop, "What did you just say?" She stared at him with a cold expression.

"Nami is naive to keep you three around."

Seeing the girl roll up her sleeves, Zoro remarked, "Now you've done it."

The girl ran up and kicked the fishman in the face... Hard. He was completely blindsided by the attack, not expecting the strength behind him. While he was down, she jumped at him and landed on his shoulders with her legs draped over him. She wrapped her legs around his neck, taking two arrows she managed to grab, and stabbed them into each eye.

Pain took over his person. This gave Artemisia the opportunity to swing back and throw him over herself. He hit the ground. It took him a moment but he managed to stand back up. He was obviously still in pain. Artemisia punched him as hard as she could in the chest. He went flying. He broke the counter at the bar and hit the shelves in the back, breaking those as well.

"That was..." Sanji trailed off.

"Intense." Zoro finished.

The sound of yelling caught their attention. It was Usopp. He ran back through the park gates with his slingshot ready, "Never fear, the Great Captain Usopp is..," He looked around at all of the incapacitated fishmen, "Is... Oh."

"Yeah," Artemisia was breathing heavily. "You're just a bit late."

"You guys did pretty good in here," He sighed as he made his way over to them. "Good job, guys." He glanced around with another sigh.

~~~

We're seeing a certain someone in the next chapter 👀.